The collection contains materials (pamphlets, flyers, clippings, memos and correspondence) related to Olson's interest in women's rights and support of ERA ratification, 1970-1982, her involvement in the Georgia Women's Political Caucus, 1983, and in the Unitarian Universalist Association, 1970-1981. There is also information on women and labor (Title 29), 1969-1972, copies of the publication Rights and other materials related to the National Civil Liberties Union, 1978-1984. A sizeable portion of the papers consists of materials for the research Olson undertook in preparation for the Women's Equality Day Rally held 26 August 1981, which honored Georgia's suffragists. Included are six folders of entirely photocopied items containing covers and articles from ""The Suffragist"" and ""Equal Rights"",both published by the National Woman's Party, providing information on Georgia and Atlanta branches and leaders, ERAs, women's vote, and suffrage cartoons. One folder contains the photocopied entirety of "A Spinster's Leaflets" by Alyn Yates Keith, 1894 (see also GSU microfilm E6447. R5713). Items copied from the Raoul Family Papers at Emory University pertain to the first suffrage parade in Georgia, 1915, and correspondence between Raoul and the National Woman's Party, the National American Women's Suffragist Association and the Equal Suffrage Party of Georgia, 1915-1921. The artifacts, which reflect Olson's varied interests, consist of over 100 pinback buttons (peace activism, political campaigns,reproductive rights, and women's issues), one yellow "March for Women's Equality, Women's Lives" ribbon (originally with two [round] stickers re reproductive rights) and one maroon ribbon (originally with one pinback re reproductive rights), ca. 1965-1990; and one unframed poster, "Weaving Women's Colors: A Decade of Empowerment, NWSA '87." These items were originally on a cork bulletin board compiled by Anne Olson, but have been removed for archival housing and better access. Photographs of the original bulletin board are included.

Biographical or historical note

Anne Olson was born in Madison Wisconsin in 1934. She received a BS in nutrition from the University of Oklahoma (1956), completed a dietetic internship at the University of Michigan (1956-1957) and earned her MS in dietary administration from the University of Kansas (1962). From 1962 to 1967, Olson was an instructor in nutrition at Emory University's School of Nursing, as well as, in 1965, serving as nutritionist for Quaker House's Project Headstart. In 1974, she became a marketing consultant for the Florida Department of Citrus and from 1974 until her retirement in 1999, she was an administrator in School/Community Nutrition for Georgia's Department of Education. Olson has had a long-standing interest in feminist and human rights issues: She has been an active participant in a number of community organizations, including the Dekalb League of Women Voters (1966-1968) and The American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia (1969-1972). She belonged to the International Association of Religious Freedom and the International Association of Liberal Religious Women (1987); was a founding member of Atlanta's Charis Circle (1996-1998); and served as the co-chair of Human Rights Atlanta (1998-1999).Currently Olson is involved with the Georgia Living Wage Campaign, as well as the Atlanta Living Wage Campaign. Olson has enjoyed a long relationship with the Unitarian Universalist Association, beginning in 1971, when she served on the Board of Directors of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta. She was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Unitarian Universalist Women's Federation (1983-1989), and has served in various positions for the Thurman Hamer Ellington Unitarian Universalist Church, Atlanta (1994-1999).

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